Photographs of gun-rights activists openly carrying long guns through a Target store near Dallas has become the latest flashpoint in a growing controversy.

At least five men and one woman from “Open Carry Texas” were photographed walking the aisles at Target, long guns prominently visible, during a March demonstration.

Another photo from a demonstration in the fall showed an armed man looking at Target’s grocery display, next to an “Expect More, Pay Less” sign.

The photos were posted on the gun group’s Facebook and Twitter feeds and have been circulating on the Internet. Gun-control advocates from “Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America” were appalled and said they’d begin ramping up pressure on Target to ban such displays.

Minneapolis-based Target said Tuesday that it has heard from neither camp recently. Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder said in a statement, “The safety and security of our guests and team members is our highest priority. Target does not sell firearms or ammunition, and while I do not have information specific to this organization to share, what I can tell you is that Target is committed to following all state and federal laws.”

The Open Carry Texas group says it’s exercising its Second Amendment rights. It’s legal to openly carry long guns in Texas, but the group wants to change state law that prohibits openly carrying handguns.

But the group’s displays have become controversial. In recent months, restaurant chains Chili’s, Starbucks, Chipotle and Jack in the Box have denounced open-carry displays after armed men held open-carry demonstrations in their stores.

According to a Wall Street Journal article, the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America has been launching petition drives asking the companies involved to take action “to stand up for the safety and security of our families.”

After restaurant chains Chili’s and Sonic denounced the open-carry demonstrators, the Moms’ group founder, Shannon Watts, said in a statement, “We are heartened that we can take our children to these family-oriented restaurants and not worry about being confronted by customers with semiautomatic rifles.”

The National Rifle Association also has denounced the demonstrations as “downright foolish,” not to mention counterproductive.

When a whole group of visibly armed men show up in a store, the NRA said in a statement Friday, “It’s downright weird and certainly not a practical way to go normally about your business while being prepared to defend yourself.”

However, on Tuesday, the NRA seemed to back away from the statement.

NRA lobbyist Chris Cox said: “The National Rifle Association supports open carry. … An alert went out that described this type of behavior as weird, or somehow not normal. And that was a mistake. … Our job is not to criticize the lawful behavior of fellow gun owners.”

Open Carry Texas also appeared to change its stance. It is now advising its members not to do open-carry demonstrations where they’re not welcome.

Meanwhile, an Alabama gun rights supporter who took a loaded pistol to the polls Tuesday got to vote, but only after putting the weapon in his pickup truck.

According to the Associated Press, John David Murphy wore his holstered 9 mm handgun into First United Methodist Church of Alabaster when he went to vote in the Republican primary.

The church, like other precincts, had a sign in the door saying firearms are prohibited.

But Murphy told a poll worker that his constitutional right to openly carry a weapon trumps a state law allowing guns in public places unless a sign is posted. A poll worker called a Shelby County deputy, who made Murphy put the gun in his truck.

Murphy said he was going to complain to county leaders about his treatment.

“Them being freaked out doesn’t trump my right to open carry,” said Murphy, who described himself as a member of Alabama Gun Rights, an advocacy group.

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